Campus News

Despite a slight decrease in fall enrollment, Georgia Highlands College is reporting record graduation numbers and a new economic impact of over $181 million.

GHC awarded 943 degrees during its commemorative 50th graduation ceremony held virtually in July 2020, which also kicked off the college’s 50th anniversary year. This was a 14% increase in graduates over the previous graduation.

In addition to celebrating GHC’s 50th class since the college’s inception as Floyd Junior College in 1970, GHC reported a significant increase in its economic impact. GHC has seen steady economic impact growth for the last five years and now holds the second-highest economic impact among state colleges in Georgia.

The University System of Georgia (USG) recently released its newest total economic impact on the state of Georgia. Of the more than $18 billion reported by the USG as a whole, GHC’s contribution was over $181 million.

This USG report is for Fiscal Year 2019 and is conducted by the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.

GHC’s exact economic impact $181,400,770.

This represents an increase of over $4 million from the Fiscal Year 2018 report.

According to the USG report, a Class of 2019 graduate is predicted to earn $888,563 more over the course of their career as a result of their degree from a USG institution. Additionally, the annual economic impact study revealed every dollar spent by USG institutions generates an additional 47 cents for the regional economy.

The USG also recently reported enrollment numbers showing an increase in overall enrollment in the system despite a slight decline of 7% among all state college enrollment. These enrollment numbers were released in the USG’s “Fall 2020 Semester Enrollment Report” which breaks down enrollment by institution, class, race and ethnicity, in-state, outof-state and international students, as well as gender and age.

New 24/7 hotline among well-being student support programs now provided

Thanks to a new initiative by the University System of Georgia (USG), students at Georgia Highlands College now have access to additional mental health support services.

The USG launched a comprehensive plan in November 2020 to significantly expand student mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Kemp announced in August that Georgia will allocate $11.5 million of the Governors Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funding – set aside by the federal CARES Act – to support mental health and student support services within the USG.

Titled “Thrive@GHC”, students can now connect to a continuously monitored mental health support line, online-based cognitive behavioral therapy, and additional psychiatric services. “Students can engage in no-cost telehealth and in-person treatment sessions provided by licensed mental health physicians, virtual psychiatric clinics to offer assessment and medication management, personal student navigators to assist with referral coordination and support, as well as a self-directed Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT) program,” Director of Student Support Services Angie Wheelus said.

The 24/7 mental health support line, 1-833-8550082, is for in-the-moment support and direction on the next steps a student should take when seeking mental health resources.

ICARE is a research-supported, mobile-friendly, and self-guided cognitive behavioral training (ICBT) developed specifically for college students experiencing depression, anxiety, or both, who do not need psychotherapy.

In addition, there is FasPsych, free psychiatric

Faculty earn over half a million in grants to help students succeed in the classroom

GHC’s faculty have been hard at work applying for and implementing a number of Affordable Learning Georgia Grants with the goal of ensuring that every GHC student has access to a quality, affordable college education.

To date, over half a million dollars in grants has been awarded to GHC faculty and has been used to directly benefit thousands of students.

GHC was listed in a press release by OpenStax, a publisher based at Rice University, as a top college in Georgia and as one of the top 10 colleges in the nation serving the most students with the adoption of free college textbooks in the 2017-2018 school year.

The University of Georgia and GHC were the only institutions in Georgia to make the list.

GHC’s faculty have been working since fall 2015 to expand Open Education Resources (OER) courses each semester. OER course conversions are aided by the University System of Georgia’s Affordable Learning Georgia (ALG) initiative which promotes student success by providing cost-free alternatives to expensive textbooks.

Currently, GHC faculty have received 46 grants from ALG, but the effort to do more is still going strong. GHC’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) has recently launched a LibGuide to support GHC instructors interested in applying for ALG grants.

“Navigating the process for an ALG grant can be challenging, especially since it differs from school to school based on institutional requirements,” Librarian Susanna Smith said. “This guide brings together all our local policies as well as basic FAQs and a list of all GHC open educational resources.”

Rachel Ruppercht, an instructional designer for CETL, said many GHC faculty and students know about the benefits of ALG grants.

“ALG grants are a great asset for both GHC faculty and students,” Ruppercht said. “They provide financial support for faculty to develop low- and no-cost alternatives to expensive textbooks. Those alternatives make a college education even more affordable for GHC students, which helps set them up for success.”

The online ALG information site, affordablelearninggeorgia.org, gives details on the grants, how to apply, how to use the grants effectively, and more.

THRIVE– continued from page 14

services for currently enrolled GHC students. These services include evaluation as well as medication and prescription management. The cost of any prescribed medications is not covered by the service.

“Students have reported increasing feelings of depression, anxiety, and loneliness, but it’s not just the pandemic causing an increase in the need for mental health resources,” Wheelus said. “Students are concerned about school, finances, housing, and much more.”

By clicking “The Wellness Hub” at Thrive@ GHC (sss.highlands.edu/thrive-ghc), GHC students can also utilize an app and an online wellness magazine with educational content, self-help tools, and more resource links. Additionally, GHC students may contact GHC’s Counseling Services at sss.highlands. edu for scheduling and referral.

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Campus News

Three employees in leadership roles at Georgia Highlands College retired from the University System of Georgia (USG) at the beginning of February in 2021 after serving several years in the system and with GHC.

These vice presidents directed the work of multiple divisions within the institution.

Jeff Patty served at GHC since 1990. His work at the college spurred the development of a highly respected information technology network and division.

“In my 30 years with the college, I’ve seen tremendous change in what we now call information technology (IT), through the advent of the internet, cell phones, email, web, and a host of other new technologies,” Patty said. “Over that time our IT team grew into an awesome team of talented individuals capable of creating or solving anything technologyrelated that came our way.”

Ginni Siler, whose employment began in the fall of 2009, worked to elevate the level of functioning and to modernize – from a technology perspective – the Office of Human Resources at GHC while building strong collaborations across the USG.

“I am very proud of the progress the USG, Division of Human Resources and institutional chief human resource officers, as well as the GHC Office of Human Resources have made during my time with the system,” Siler said. “We have some extremely knowledgeable and dedicated Human Resource employees who work tirelessly for student and employee success. It is my hope that GHC and USG leadership continue to pursue movement toward appropriate compensation for the talented GHC employees who exhibit such care and passion for our students every day.”

Mary Transue worked to raise awareness and support for the college as well as student scholarships and programs through the GHC Foundation since she began in 2014. She worked within the USG since 2007. While at GHC, she also worked to reinvigorate GHC’s marketing, expand the college’s capacity for organizational communications, and enhance institutional support through her work with government relations.

“During my time with GHC, I have had the privilege of working with some of the most dedicated faculty and staff I know. The focus has always been on student success, keeping things as cost effective as possible, and ensuring an excellent opportunity for students to obtain their degree,” Transue said. “Even during the challenges of this past year, faculty and staff worked tirelessly to help keep students on track with as little disruption as possible and took extra steps to make sure students knew they were supported through the changes not only in the academic setting, but also through their personal challenges as well.”

“You learn a lot about your colleagues when they are faced with navigating the type of budget and health challenges 2020 delivered across the country,” she added, “and what I learned was there is no question that as the college continues to grow, I know the focus on success will not waiver. I am proud of how GHC operates and to have been a part of the institution.”

In a congratulatory email to the leadership members retiring from the system, GHC President Don Green said “[I want to] thank each of them for strengthening the college and elevating the efforts of their teams and areas in Human Resources, Advancement, and Information Technology during their time at GHC.”

“Enough cannot truly be said about how much each of these individuals have accomplished for our college,” he added. “I’ll miss their expertise, guidance, leadership, and above all else, their absolute commitment to our students, faculty, staff, and college community.”

Jeff Patty Vice President for Information Technology & Chief Information Officer

Ginni Siler Vice President for Human Resources & Chief Human Resource Officer

Mary Transue Senior Vice President for Advancement & Enrollment Management / Executive Director of the GHC Foundation Inc.

GHC now offers certified electronic diplomas to graduates

Georgia Highlands College graduates now have a way to take and use a certified electronic diploma wherever they need it. In addition to receiving a printed version of their diploma, graduates now have the option to receive a duplicate CeDiploma.

A CeDiploma is an official, secure, and verifiable PDF version of a diploma that allows for unlimited sharing with family, friends, employers, and social media, as well as proof of education with only the important details.

Each credential provides a unique 12-digit Certified Electronic Document Identifier called a CeDiD. The CeDiD allows for instant proof of a graduate’s accomplishment using Validation Services which can be used a number of ways such as enhancing a resume with a CeDiD and validation URL to a CeDiploma.

Registrar Ed Rosser said the CeDiploma is a win-win for students, employers, and the college.

“As advancement in technology grows, GHC works to stay competitive with the new ways of delivering services to our students that give them an advantage in the job market,” Rosser said. “A company can use the student’s CeDiD code and validate the student’s degree in seconds on the link on our website.”

GHC has partnered with Paradigm to offer this new option for graduates.

Benefits of a CeDiploma include: • Exact Duplicate – A CeCredential is always an exact duplicate of the paper credential, leading to greater confidence in the marketplace. • Unique Identifier – A CeCredential always has a unique serial number that can be shared and validated without providing the actual digital credential. • TruSeal – The seal that is securely printed on a paper diploma is woven into the very fabric of a

CeCredential. • Visual Cues – Borrowed from the banking industry, a CeCredential contains immediate visual cues to provide visual confidence in the credential. • Real-time Validation – The CeCredential is the only digital credential that allows real-time validation through the issuing institution’s website.

Visit commencement.highlands.edu for more information on the new CeDiploma.

Campus News

GHC nursing students recruited to help administer covid vaccine

Through a coordinated effort with local healthcare facilities, students in the Georgia Highlands College nursing program began using their skills at local vaccination clinics this spring to help administer the COVID-19 vaccine.

“All first-year and second-year nursing students have the opportunity to help in this process,” Dean of Health Sciences Michelle Boyce said.

Nursing students take additional training modules related to safety and administration of vaccines while also wearing personal protective equipment as normally worn in labs and other clinical settings.

GHC partnered with the Georgia Department of Public Health in the Northwest Health District and with WellStar Health System to aid vaccination clinics throughout Northwest Georgia and Metro Atlanta.

After Assistant Director of Nursing Shea Walker was asked by the Georgia Department of Public Health to assist in the administration process, the nursing school agreed without hesitation.

Boyce said having nursing students in the vaccine rollout process reflects GHC students’ commitment to helping the community.

“Our students have learned to adapt and work through a crisis,” Boyce said. “This partnership to aid in the vaccine rollout also helps to spotlight the role community and public health nurses serve.”

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National book award winner of John Lewis trilogy speaks at virtual event

Andrew Aydin, the creator and co-author of the graphic novel memoir series “MARCH,” spoke to GHC students in January during a virtual event. The National Book Award winning story focuses on the real-life experiences of late U.S Congressman John Lewis.

Aydin’s trilogy showcases the civil rights movement and is told from the perspective of Lewis. The congressman is best known for his chairmanship of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and for leading the march that was halted by police violence on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, in 1965, a landmark event in the history of the civil rights movement that became known as “Bloody Sunday.”

The virtual student event was moderated by staff members of the GHC student newspaper, Six Mile Post.

Aydin spoke about his experience growing up as a Turkish-American youth in Atlanta, working to survive amid poverty, and being raised by a single mother. He told students, faculty, and staff how he was able to accomplish his goals, largely thanks to a mentorship with Lewis and by following the values instilled in him by his mother.

“The idea that you can come from what we called ’99 cent hamburger poor’ and stand on stage with a civil rights icon and hold up your comic book and say, ‘I deserve to be here’ – that was the highest achievement I have had,” Aydin said.

Aydin is a New York Times bestselling author, a National Book Award winner, a Robert F. Kennedy Book Award Honoree, a Printz Award winner, a Sibert Medal winner, a Walter Dean Myers Award winner, a two-time Eisner Award winner, and the recipient of multiple Coretta Scott King honors.

Reading comics from a young age and often having to borrow them because he could not afford to purchase them, Aydin said he was interested in comic books because the stories were often about “people doing the right thing because it was the right thing to do.”

“In comic books, these are characters that have gone through extreme trauma but still found a way to help people,” Aydin said.

Aydin then used that theme of altruistic action to co-author “MARCH” alongside Lewis and graphic novelist Nate Powell. According to the website of its publisher, www.penguinrandomhouse.com, the “MARCH” series is a “vivid first-hand account of John Lewis’ lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation.”

While based on Lewis’ personal story, it also reflects upon the lows and highs of the broader civil rights movement. Limited copies of “MARCH” were made available for students to take home.

“I think it’s just great for students to talk to someone who worked so closely with a person who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King and was on the frontlines of the civil rights movement, what it was like working with them and getting their first-hand perspective on that experience,” Co-Curricular and Transition Programs Coordinator Clifton Puckett said. “On another level, it can be inspiring for students to engage with someone who’s taken an idea and passion and put it into a finished product.”

Highlands Writers Conference returned in free virtual format this year

The annual Highlands Writers Conference (HWC) organized by GHC faculty and staff made a virtual return this year. The event took place in February and was free and open to the public.

“The HWC is unique in that it offers very close encounters with nationally recognized professional writers across a wide range of genres,” Division Chair for School of Humanities Jessica Lindberg said. “Attendees of the HWC speak highly of how down-to-earth our conference is and how casual and open it is to all levels of writers.”

Writers featured at this year’s conference included Kelly DeLong, Clark Atlanta University instructor and author of the novel “The

Poor Sucker” and the non-fiction book “The Freshman Year at an HBCU.” In addition, the event featured Brian Oliu and Jason McCall. “Brian Oliu and Jason McCall write in many different forms and across a wide range of subjects, including basketball, wrestling, video games, and donuts,” Lindberg said. “In addition, Desravines GEORGIA HIGHLANDS COLLEGE H i ghlands Writers Conference 2021 Mackleen’s 2018 directorial debut, the movie ‘Smoke,’ is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.” Student group Brother 2 Brother hosted the workshop by McCall, while the Student Engagement Office sponsored the conference. The Creative Writing Club also participated in the event.

School of STEM hosts annual robotics tournament

The FIRST LEGO League Challenge returned to Georgia Highlands College virtually in March as teams of children ages 9-14 were challenged to think like scientists and engineers while utilizing technology and mathematics.

GHC hosted the virtual event via Zoom where participants were challenged to build, test, and program an autonomous robot using LEGO technology in order to solve a set of missions in the Robot Game.

Thanks to the generous support of the Bartow County School System (BCSS), the number of teams has doubled since last year’s competition. BCSS provided funding for the start-up of nearly 10 new teams, including registration fees, purchase of a robot and accessory kit, construction of game table, and more.

Professor of Biology Sharryse Henderson said the FIRST LEGO League Challenge is an affordable and engaging way for students to interact with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and apply the content and skills they are learning in school to real-world challenges. “Not only can tournaments such as this allow students an opportunity to showcase their work, but it also helps students to gain and strengthen a number of 21st-century skills, including critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, and leadership,” Henderson said.

Although the transition to a virtual format created a different experience, the event was still a success.

“It isn’t easy to replicate the energy and excitement of a faceto-face competition in a virtual format,” Henderson said. “Nevertheless, this tournament provided teams a chance to shine and show off what they have learned and invented during this particularly tough school year.”

The FIRST LEGO theme this year was “RePLAY.” Award categories include Robot Game, Robot Design, Innovation Project, Core Values, Rising Star, and Grand Champion.

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GHC’s Bachelor of Business Administration Program (BBA) Coordinator Mecole Ledbetter was named a recipient of the CartersvilleBartow County Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 IMPACT Awards.

According to the Chamber’s website, the annual IMPACT Awards are designed to recognize emerging leaders within the Chamber community. These individuals are “leading the field in their line of work and are making a significant difference in their community through their service to others.”

“The Chamber’s IMPACT Award embodies the very nature of GHC as an institution by capturing its ability to nurture and develop leaders from within, as well as GHC’s significant contributions to the community through continued service,” Ledbetter said.

Ledbetter said her work as a program coordinator at GHC allowed her to further develop leadership skills through program development within the realm of the college’s bachelor’s degree programs. In addition, her role at GHC has provided community outreach opportunities through service in areas such as committees, boards, leadership programs, and community service-learning projects.

In order to be considered for this prestigious award, applicants must be under the age of 40 and employed by a Chamber Member organization. They should be professional leaders who have demonstrated a strong record of innovation and outstanding perfor-

mance. GHC Campus Dean for Cartersville Leslie Johnson nominated Ledbetter for the award. “When the call for nominations went out, Mecole immediately came to mind. Her impact on GHC, the local workforce and our educational community makes her the perfect candidate,” Johnson said. “In her role as BBA Program Coordinator, she helps build a successful program that meets the needs of our students Mecole Ledbetter and our workforce. She supports the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce as chair of the Adult Leadership Bartow program and gives back to the community through her work mentoring K-12 students.” Johnson said the IMPACT Award is a wonderful way to shed light on Mecole’s accomplishments and illustrates how highly regarded she is by the community and her GHC colleagues. Ledbetter said she appreciates being named an award recipient and was honored to be considered for the distinction among other highly-skilled individuals in the community. “I was really surprised because I can only imagine the number of amazing people who were nominated along with myself,” Ledbetter said. “I was also humbled by the announcement because I never do anything with an expectation of recognition. It is always a commitment to the mission that I remain focused on.”

Singing voice of Simba from Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ joins business speaker series

submitted photo GHC’s School of Business and Professional Studies continued its virtual Entrepreneur Speaker Series this spring with actor and singer Jason Weaver whose credits include the 1991 TV miniseries “The Jackson’s: An American Dream,” and providing the singing voice of Simba in the 1994 film “The Lion King.”

The series, which was free and open to the public, also featured CEO, speaker, and author Casandra Austin-McDonald, as well as writer, entrepreneur, and creator J. Carter whose most recent endeavor is the free streaming TV platform Freeli TV.

The Entrepreneur Speaker Series connects successful entrepreneurs with students and the community to share stories and advice in a virtual format.

“Last semester’s Entrepreneur Speaker Series was very well received, and we are excited to offer this series again,” event moderator and Assistant Professor of Business Administration Shanika Wright-Turner said. “This semester the series featured entrepreneurs with fresh perspectives and those that talked about taking risks and bringing new ideas to life.”

Carter, who spoke in April, said he felt he had a responsibility to engage with students and help them learn about his path toward success. Carter’s newest project, Freeli TV, is the world’s first free linear streaming app offering multiple channels dedicated to

Students at GHC recently named one faculty and one staff member as the college’s “Advising is Teaching Award” winners. Students chose Assistant Professor of Biology Brandy Rogers, who was named “Faculty Advisor of the Year,” and Academic Advisor Josh Grant, who was named “Professional Advisor of the Year.”

“These award nominations are submitted by students,” Quality Enhancement Program Coordinator Elizabeth Tanner said. “With the nominations, we get to see all the important ways staff and faculty advisors have an impact on our students. These nominations are an important reminder of the quality and highcaliber advising that a student receives when they come to GHC, and we are helping students meet their educational goals and find a pathway to graduation.”

The “Advising is Teaching Award” program is part of GHC’s ongoing “Quest for Success” advising mission.

The college’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), titled “Quest for Success,” places advising at the forefront of student academic and personal success. Quest for Success aims to increase the value of the student experience at GHC by emphasizing advising as a core component of learning. By creating required advising activities, GHC students participate in ongoing, goal-focused advising, keeping them on the path to graduation.

GHC students chose Brandy Rogers as the “Faculty Advisor of the Year.” Rogers is an assistant professor of biology. She said her favorite aspect

of advising is to see students gain a renewed sense of clarity and determination, helping them to see the clearest path to achieving their goals. “Advising students is an important part of what faculty at GHC do,” Rogers said. She began advising students during her first year as an instructor. “Advising students gives us the opportunity to encourage students, to help them see their potential, and to help them realize Brandy Rogers that their dreams are within reach. For me, being a part of a student’s journey and helping them design and carry out their plans is very rewarding.” GHC students chose Josh Grant as the “Professional Advisor of the Year.” Grant originally started teaching until he discovered a passion to help students through advising full time and now serves as a professional advisor. “After teaching for the better part of a decade, I discovered that there was a whole profession

Josh Grant dedicated to helping students in the ways that I had been helping them outside of normal class work,” Grant said. “I could spend all day helping students at the exact moment when they needed help getting a clearer picture of what their options were and what they needed to do to accomplish their goals. Teaching outside the classroom – that’s what led me to professional advising.” Both Rogers and Grant serve on GHC’s Cartersville site and see the recognition as an example of how GHC puts students first and how important quality advising is at the college.

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Black Culture through TV series, music videos, movies, sports, and more.

“I’m a big believer that when you give back, you get even more in return,” Carter said, “so it’s always been a mission of mine to help folks along their way just like I was helped along my way. When I was presented with an opportunity to be a part of this series, it was a no-brainer. I’d be disrespecting the folks who poured their knowledge and wisdom into me when I was a college student if I didn’t do the same.”

Carter added that participation in the Entrepreneurial Speaker Series is a valuable experience for the speakers as well.

“By letting students and viewers know about our newest venture, I hope to inspire them and offer them a blueprint for success,” Carter said. “In turn, speaking to young and talented people has a tendency to reenergize and inspire me to do more and be more.”

Visit ess.highlands.edu for more information on GHC’s entrepreneurship pathway.

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Stephen Harmon Raul Madrid Krystal Ellis Trent Mull

Student academic team participates in regional competition

A student academic team from one of GHC’s bachelor’s programs competed in the international Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) Case Competition in February.

Students in GHC’s logistics and supply chain management program were given the opportunity to test their supply chain knowledge and use their critical thinking and problem-solving skills to work on real-world challenges, said Assistant Professor for Logistics and Supply Chain Management Lucinda Montgomery.

The 2021 ASCM Case Competition is provided by ASCM in collaboration with Deloitte Consulting LLP. Participating teams present solutions to an exciting end-to-end supply chain management problem as they compete for prize money and recognition. The case may involve distribution, logistics, sales and operations planning, inventory, and other operations management challenges.

Seven teams from GHC competed in the “College and University Round” of the national competition in October 2020. From that group of seven GHC teams, two entered into the “Virtual Qualifying Round” in November 2020. Of those two GHC teams that entered into the “Virtual Qualifying Round,” one team, led by student Stephen Harmon, advanced to the “Southeast Regional Round” on Feb. 20, 2021. Though unable to compete in the “Final Competition” in October 2021, she confirmed GHC’s team was in the Top 8 in our region, and out of over 300 participating colleges and universities, GHC was ranked in the Top 64 overall.

“Students were presented with a case, data exhibits, a PowerPoint template, and judging rubric. For this particular case, students had to answer three questions and scenarios pertaining to COVID19 and the impact on supply chains,” Montgomery said.

Students on the team were Stephen Harmon and Raul Madrid of Cartersville, along with Krystal Ellis of Acworth and Trent Mull of Rome. These students are enrolled at the Cartersville site and take classes remotely.

“The members of our team were surprised and excited to learn we would go on to compete in the regional round,” Harmon said. “We had put in a considerable amount of time outside of normal school hours to put our presentation together. I could not be any prouder of my team and team members for the effort that they put into the ASCM case competition.”

Harmon said he and his team feel their classes helped prepare them for the competition, which in turn provided an opportunity to engage in some of the workplace scenarios that graduates of the Logistics and Supply Chain Management program may encounter.

“The course material from our first week in the BBA program through the present is highly applicable to the ASCM case competition,” Harmon said. “It also helped that the BBA program at GHC is not simply textbook learning. There are a lot of hands-on assignments and projects to apply the textbook learning to real-world current issues and situations.”

Student wins national PTK TikTok challenge

For GHC student Camille Brown, adapting to change, staying focused on goals, and putting in hard work to succeed are not the only attributes of a successful college student – you also have to have some fun.

Brown utilized all of these elements to create a TikTok video that won a recent TikTok Thursday challenge for the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Awareness Week. Brown serves as vice president of social media for GHC’s chapter of the international honor society, Alpha Psi Omicron. Inspired by a fellow classmate’s passion for PTK, Brown brought metaphors of hard work and personal growth to the small screen accompanied by the music of Michael Jackson.

“I knew that I wanted to show myself multitasking and working towards my goals because Phi Theta Kappa is all about perseverance, hard work, and the drive to be excellent,” Brown said. “I’ve always loved Michael Jackson, so eventually I had the idea of using his song ‘Workin’ Day and Night’ to harness the ultimate message of this honor society. Next thing you know, I found a sparkly glove and I was ready to groove while paying homage to him.”

In the video, Brown showcases a book from her World History class titled “The Silk Roads: A Brief History With Documents,” and a book from her World Literature class titled “The Norton Anthology: World Literature.”

“My World Literature book is pretty thick, so in showing it, I was illustrating that Phi Theta Kappa members are leaders who don’t take shortcuts,” Brown said. “When I was highlighting the books, I was showing that being a part of this honor society requires one to pay attention to detail and to be organized. When I was dancing in the video, I was showing that Phi Theta Kappa may be a lot of hard work, but it is also a lot of fun.”

The video also features Brown wearing a GHC sweatshirt to represent her daily life as a college student and PTK member and drinking coffee from a Batman mug to show being a PTK member and officer is a daily job.

“I have to work day and night to maintain my grades and to maintain the chapter’s page,” she said. “Batman is my favorite superhero, so drinking from the mug as I work brings in something that entertains me as I work towards accomplishing goals.”

The video concludes with Brown taking a sigh of relief.

“It took me about two hours to produce the video just because I wanted to make sure that the different scenes flowed coherently, and the music was timed perfectly with my dance moves and accomplished tasks,” she said. “In other words, I wanted to make sure that the video was edited to the best of my ability so that it could conceptualize the work ethics of PTK members.”

Camille Brown is a business administration major who resides in Douglasville and currently attends classes online.

Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for two-year colleges. Students who achieve a 3.50 cumulative GPA with at least 12 credit hours at Georgia Highlands College are invited to join. The GHC chapter is Alpha Psi Omicron and was chartered in January 1994.

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